City Council changes sign ordinance for businesses

Lexington City Council voted to amend the city’s code of ordinances regarding sign regulations to allow business to have a sign on each street front.

BY SHARON MYERSThe Dispatch

Lexington City Council voted to amend the city’s code of ordinances regarding sign regulations to allow business to have a sign on each street front and to lift the prohibition on canopy signs during its meeting on Monday.Previously, the language in the ordinance restricted businesses from having signs closer than 500 apart, but did not take into account if the business was located on a corner. “The only building in the area who was big enough to be able to do this is WalMart,” said Tammy Absher, director of business and community development. The amendment allows businesses to have a sign on each side of the building that faces a street, as long as there is a minimum of 100 feet between any ground signs on site. They also voted to allow canopy signs, such as a logo painted on a canopy erected over the pump area at a gas station. The reason canopy signs were not allowed was because many gas stations were being repurposed and the canopies were used for oversized block letter signs around the entire perimeter. There were many complaints about such use of canopy sings. The ordinance was amended to allow gas stations to use canopies over gas pump areas for signage, with the copy area to be limited to no more than one half of each side of the canopyThe council also approved a resolution supporting of the preservation of federal tax-exempt filing, a tool state and local governments use for low-cost financing. Currently, state and local governments are not required to pay federal income on the interest they received from municipal bonds. Municipalities benefit through saving on the interest cost of borrowed money, passed on to citizens through reduced rates and greater local investment. “This is a critical and cost effective tool for many city projects,” said Absher.Also during its meeting, the city council completed naming Lexington City Youth Council members for the upcoming school year. Those named were Josey Parker, Derall Pittman Jr., Arefa Bacchus, Ricky Holmes, Sam Sharpe, Jerel Smith, Jack Davis, Lindsay Davis, and Ashely Phillips. The youth council was established in March 2012 to develop leadership and volunteer opportunities that benefit the community for Lexington Senior High School students residing within the school district. They meet regularly with the mayor and city council to learn the inner working of city government.Piedmont Triad Regional Council was selected as grant administrator for the $225,000 Community Development block grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance. This grant will consist of the rehabilitation of four to eight single-family scattered sites housed located in Davidson County. Lexington Housing Authority announced it has received $27 Million from the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) initiative to renovate several public housing units in Lexington. Residents who are currently in public housing will be relocated in waves to other housing units until the renovations on their home can be completed. The renovations include new electrical, water, sewer, roofing and energy efficient appliances. “It is really going to help our residents living conditions,” said Terrance Gerald, director of the Lexington Housing Authority.Before adjourning the meeting, the city council heard an update from Recycling and Waste Collections Services Superintendent Tammy Michaels on the progress of the pilot residential recycling rollout program. According to Michaels, data shows a 58 percent participation rate and reduced disposal costs by $15,624. The pilot program areas include Westover, Hillside, Knob Hill and The Vineyards.

Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com.